Indicator buoy for sunken ships



June 23, 1931. H. J. KERWIN 1,811,014

INDICATOR BUO Y FOR SUNKEN SHIPS Filed Sept. 3, 1929 2.$heets-Sheet l'if 0 a I I l H 5 /a 26' l r" L" W///////////////////// /7////i InventorAttorney June 23, 1931. H. .1. KERWIN 1,811,014

INDICATOR BUOY FOR SUNKEN SHIPS Filed Sept. 3, 1929 2 Sheets-Shet 2 a IZ! Inventor HJZferura'm yp wmu v the manner in which the device floatson of' the water above a sunken ship.

Patented June 23, 1931' j UNITED STATES PATENT-entice HENRY J. KERWIN,0F PEOENIXVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA; LUCILLE A; KERWIN v MINISTR-ATBIX O33SAID HENRY J". KEBWIN, DECEASED nnrcnron :euoY non suuxnivsnrrsApplication filed September This invention relates to a device whichmaybe conveniently referred to as a special 1nd1 seating buoy. It has moreparticularfrefer:

they may stand and be sustained normally" above the surface of thewater, and an assoclated hand rail. r r Another feature dlstlngulshingthe invenvtion is a signal bell which is arranged to be continuouslysounded'when the ship is beneath the water, but which is renderednormally silent by a special noise preventing device.

Other features and advantages of the in vention will become more readilyapparent from the following'description' and drawings. I ,In thedrawings: p 1 Figure 1 is an elevational view of an indicator buoyconstructed in accordance with the present invention showing it in itsnormal p osition on the deck of a heater the like, v

Figure 2 is a central vertical sectional view through the same. a A

.Figure 3 is a topplan view thereof. Figure 4 is a horizontal sectionalview through thelower portion. Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view showingtop Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional and ele'vational view showingthe silencing means for the hammer of the signal bell; "Figure 7 is afragmentary elevational view showinga special form of grapple such asmay be slid downwardly-on the'buoy feed cable for salvaging work.

In Figures 1 and 2, it will be observed that the reference character 8designates the deck of the boat 9. Attached to this is a windlass 10having a base plate 11 and suitable frame structure 12, and a drum 13,on which 3, 1929. Serial No. 390,038.

the feed cable 14 is wound. A detachable the reference character 16'.This comprises a suitably shaped float-17, whose base portion istelescopically fitted within the upper end of a skirt portion, 18. Thelower end ofthe skirt portion is flared outwardly'to form a base andthis skirt fits telescopically a tubular element 30 and is in slidingfrictional engagement therewithover and normally conceals the Windlassstructure 10. Thefskirt issuitablyiattached to the deck where'con;ditions require such attachment.

The reference character 19 designates an annular platformattached to thefloat above the water line, of a sizeto accommodate'a number ofpassengers. Mounted on the-float above the platform is a suitablyconstructed hand rail 20. On top of the ball like por. tion of the floatare uprights 21 on" which a signal bell 22 is swingablyfmounted. The Iball like hammer 23, (see Figure 6) is normally prevented from strikingthe bell and is silent through the medium of a rubber cup protector 24:;This cup protector is normally and-snugly fitted over the ball as shownand I is attached to the upper end of a flexible rope or the like 25, onthe lower end of which is a suitable weight 26'resting normally on Undernormal-conditions, the indicator rests upon the deck withfthe skirtportion over .the Windlass structure, and the feed cable 1a is wound onthe drum 13. Also the protector "cup 243'is fitted over the head ofthe-hammer 23 of the signal bellr Hence, even though thedeck rocks thebell will be silent, but inthe event-that the ship would sink, it' isobvious that the cable will unreel automatically and that the float willstay on top of the water, while the ship recedes; During this submergingof the ship, it is ob-' vious that the weight26 will exert a downwardpull on the element 25 and will remove the protector cup- 24 from thehammer of the bell. Hence the bell will then be free to sound to attractattention of rescue ships.

The structure seen in Figure 7 comprises a grapple 27 with the loweringcable 28 attached thereto. This grapple is provided with eyes 29 whichmaybe slid downwardly on the feed cable 14; for rescue of the sunkenship.

For the purpose of retaining the device in its proper place on the deckwith. respect to the Windlass 10, an upwardly tapered, open endedtubular standard 30 is secured to the ures 2 and 4 of the drawings.

As obvious thedevice is comparatively large and adapted to accommodatepersons 1 forced to abandon the ship prior to sinking. Hence the deviceis also a life saver. Its principal function, however, is to provide aclearly visible and audible indicator'buoy to attract attention and todesignate' the site of the sunken. ship. 7 g r A careful considerationof thedescription in connection with the drawings will enable the readerto obtain a clear understandingof the same. Therefore, a more lengthydescription isregar'ded as unnecessary. '1 i Minor changes in shape,sizeand rearrangement of parts coming within the field of invention claimedmay be resorted to, in actual practice, if desired.

Iclaimz r I 1. In a structure of the class described, a relatively.stationary-support, a windlass structure mounted thereonincludingarotary drum and a feed cable mounted on said drum, a float, one'end ofthe cable being-connected with said float, and adepending skirt portioncarried by said float and normallyresting on said support, a tubularshell fixed to said stationary support; and immediately surrounding saidwindlassstructure.

2. In a structure of the class described, a relatively stationarysupport, a Windlass structure mounted thereon including a rotary drumand a-feed cable mountedon said drum, a tubular shell immediatelysurrounding said drum and fixed to said support, a float, one end of thecable being connected withsaid float, anda depending skirt portioncarried by. said float and normally resting on said support and in.telescopic register with and frictionally slid'able on said tubularshell and concealing. said Windlass, uprights carried by the upper endof said float, and a signal bell mounted on said upright. I

3. In an indicator buoy structure of the class described, a relativelystationary support, a Windlass fixedly mounted thereon and including adrum, and a feed cable wound on said drum, a tubular shell immediatelysurrounding said drum and fixed to said stationary support, a float, theupper end of said feed cable being'connected with said including a drum,and afeed cable wound onsaiddrum, atubular shell immediately surroundingsaid drum, a float, the upper end ofsaid feed cablebeing connected withsaid float, a skirt connected with and depending below said float andhaving a flared bottom, said skirt beingiadapted tofrictionally slidetelescopically over said tubular shell and enclose said Windlassstructure, and a signal bell on the upper end ofthe float, together witha rescue platform rigidly mounted on the float and a hand rail suitablymounted on the float above the water line to sustain the refugeesnormally above the surface of the water above the platform. i I 5. In astructure of the class described, a

float, asupporting base for the float, a signal bell mounted on thefloat, and silencing means for the hammer of said bell comprising a cupnormally and removably fitted onthe head of said hammer, a cordattached: tosaid cup, and a weight attached to the bottom of said cord.p p

6. A relatively stationary support, a wind lass mounted thereon, andincluding'a drum and a feed cable wound on saididrum, a tubular shellimmediately surrounding said wind lass and'secured to said stationarysupport, a tubular skirt-like shell having a flared bottom and adapted'to slide frictionally and rest normally upon said stationary supportand conceal said Windlass structure; a float telescopically over saidtubular shell and V supportedby said skirt-like'shell, an indicatormounted on the float, a platform for V the reception of refugees and tomaintain them above the Water line and a'hand rail above the platform,both-mounted rigidly to and surrounding said float above the water line.L 1

. In testimony whereof I affix my-signature.

' HENRY J. KERWIN.

